Basketball training apparatus and method for using same in shooting a basketball

ABSTRACT

A basketball training apparatus includes a flat table portion including ball holders that are circular holes through the table portion dimensioned to hold a basketball; and legs that extend from the flat table portion and keep the table portion substantially level.

BACKGROUND

In basketball, like golf, the best way to improve a shot is by repetitive practice using proper technique. One of the challenges in basketball shooting practice is that shooting off the dribble is different from shooting after catching or being passed a basketball. The former way of shooting can be practiced alone, as the shooter can just dribble to a spot and shoot. The latter requires a partner, ball delivery device, or stationary ball rack.

A partner is a good option but not always available and if the partner is a coach, the option can be expensive. Another drawback of the partner is that if the goal is consistent repetition, the partner's pass will never arrive at the same height for the shooter to start their shot. This may simulate real passing situations but it may not be good for a teaching environment where consistency of repetitions is vital.

A ball delivery or passing machine like a JUGS™ machine for basketballs would be an interesting option but such devices are expensive and do not give the shooter a chance to reset his feet or wait for a previous shot to fall if it is bouncing on the rim.

The final option is the tradition basketball rack 80 shown in FIG. 1. The challenges of the traditional rack are several: (1) It is not portable or foldable. To transport such a rack, requires a large vehicle and carrying it is not convenient; (2) The side pieces 90 block easy access to balls; (3) The top rack only holds 4 balls and they can move along their support rails such that the shooter may reach for a ball that is not there; and (4) The lower racks 95 are not at a shooting level convenient for the shooter.

The present invention seeks to address the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A basketball training apparatus includes a flat table portion including ball holders that are circular holes through the table portion dimensioned to hold a basketball; and legs that extend from the flat table portion and keep the table portion substantially level with respect to a surface on which the legs engage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a basketball rack of the prior art.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show perspective top views of the basketball training apparatus, partially unfolded, with FIG. 2B showing a view through a transparent table portion thereof.

FIGS. 3A-3C show top perspective views of the basketball training apparatus, showing the legs at different lengths of extension and the table portion shown transparent.

FIGS. 4A-4C show an isolated side view of the legs in different lengths of extension.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the basketball training apparatus with certain dimensioning in meters.

FIGS. 6A-6D show different material choices for the table portion of the basketball training apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 2-6, inclusive of the A, B, C etc. versions of the figures, show the basketball training apparatus 200 for basketball shooting practice. The apparatus 200 includes a table portion 210 like a “table” or “bench” with hollow circular ball holders 220. The table portion 210 includes 10 ball holders 220 in two rows of 5, although more or less could be used. As shown, two of the ball holders 220 a, 220 b are formed as half circles on either side of a half of the table portion 210.

The table portion 210 includes two halves 216, 218 foldable about a pivot 212 such that it can fold onto itself and encapsulate a storage area 214 between the halves 216, 218 and a user can easily transport it using the handles 221. The pivot 212 may be any suitable hinge and should not extend through the ball holders 220. When closed, the apparatus 200 may include a closure mechanism 270 in order to prevent accidental opening during transport. The closure mechanism 270 may include a clasp with each clasping piece on one half of the table portion 210, a press fit engagement between positions of the table portion 210 underside, or other suitable engagement.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the basketball holders 220 may have a radius of 0.20 m while the distance between the ball holders 220 may be 0.08 m. These dimensions are suitable for the basketballs for players from the ages 8 to adults according to FIBA basketball size regulations. These sizes may be adjusted for special cases, i.e., for an apparatus only used with women's size balls, the holders 220 may be sized smaller so the balls are not resting as deeply within the holders 220.

As best seen in FIGS. 3A-3C and FIGS. 4A-4C, the table portion 210 is engaged with legs 250 that include wheels 260 that assist in the apparatus's easy movement around a basketball court. The wheels 260 may be made out of thick rubber so that their movement will not damage the wooden floor of indoor basketball courts, whereas at the same time they will not bear damage if the training takes place on the hard surfaces of outdoor basketball courts (e.g. school or neighbourhood courts). The wheels may be locked in place to prevent accidental movement of the table during shooting practice using cam lock 262.

The legs 250 may pivot about pivot 230 such that they move between an extended position (FIG. 3A) and folded position (FIG. 2B) within the storage area 214.

The legs 250 may be height adjustable between three heights: (1) Level 1 (LOW) 0.65 cm, Level 2 (MEDIUM) 0.90 cm, and LEVEL 3 (TALL) 1.10 cm, all shown respectively in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C.

The legs 250 may include two telescoping portions 222, 224, where the inner leg 222 includes spring-compressed buttons 225 that extend through holes 227 in the outer leg 224. Movement between the different heights requires compression of the buttons 225 and realignment with another hole 227. The legs 250 may also include one or more cross pieces 229 to increase the apparatus's stability.

As shown, the legs 250's extension and rotation is done manually, but the legs may both extend and rotate using an electric, hydraulic, or other-powered actuator.

FIGS. 6A-6D show certain material types for the table portion 210 including evenly spaced weight reduction circular holes or oblong holes (FIGS. 6A, 6B), which may be advantageous to reduce the weight of the apparatus 200. FIG. 6C shows a textured material that may prevent slippage and FIG. 6D shows a smooth surfaced material. The table portion and/or legs may be made from aluminium, PVC, vinyl, or other material suitable for resisting wear in an athletic training environment but maintaining a light weight for transport.

In use for training, the training apparatus helps create a more natural, repetitive flow for a shooter in this way. First, the shooter receives the ball at the same (adjustable) level for each shot because the table is level with the court. Thus instead of coming off a dribble or receiving a pass, both of which can result in the ball arriving at a different height, the apparatus 200 delivers the ball at only one height. Second, the apparatus 200, by presenting the ball at the same level allows the shooter to focus on the basket. This might be harder in game situations but in practice it allows the shooter to remain focused on the basket. Third, by setting up the apparatus 200 in one location, the shooter can return to the same spot and practice from one distance, establishing even more consistency.

A method of using the apparatus 200 may include the following steps:

(1) Unfold the apparatus and extend the legs 250.

(2) Set the height of the legs 250 to a desired height for training.

(3) Place the apparatus at the desired orientation (the apparatus can be oriented so that any of its edges face or are angled to the basket as desired). It should be appreciated that steps 2 and 3 may be reversed.

(4) Place basketballs into ball holders 220.

At this point, the device has been set up for use in training.

(5) Orient the shooter at the apparatus 200 at the distance that they will begin practicing.

(6) Shooter retrieves ball from ball holder 220 and executes a shot. Shooter can self-train for repetition or work with a trainer on-site or remotely to receive shooting advice.

(7) Depending on shooter's size and desired training approach, shooter may stay in one place and shoot while they reach for balls, someone may place balls into ball holders 220 nearest the shooter, or shooter may move from one ball holder 220 to the next.

(8) When all the ball holders 220 are empty, shooter may reload apparatus 200 with balls or someone other than the shooter may reload the balls as the shooter works.

While the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments above, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims. 

1. A method for training a person to shoot a basketball comprising: providing a basketball training apparatus comprising: a single flat table portion including ball holders that are circular holes through the table portion and that hold a basketball within the circular holes such that the portion of the basketball outside of the hole can be grasped on all sides, wherein the ball holder holes have a uniform diameter of 0.2 meters; and legs configured to extend from the flat table portion and keep the table portion substantially level with respect to a surface that the legs engage, wherein the legs are height-adjustable and the height adjustment of the legs varies the height of the table; wherein the table portion has a pivot at its mid-point about which the flat table portion can fold, wherein the table portion comprises two equal-sized halves rotatable about the pivot; unfolding the table portion about the pivot; extending the legs from the table to engage a court; setting a height of the legs to a desired height; placing the apparatus at the desired orientation to a basket; placing basketballs into the ball holder holes; removing the basketballs from the ball holders one at a time; and shooting the basketballs towards the basket.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the legs extend from the table portion from a pivot, such that the legs have two positions, an extended position and a folded position.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein in the folded position, the legs are beneath the table portion.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the table portion halves each include a portion of a closure mechanism that when engaged, holds the table in a closed position.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the table portion includes a storage area into which the legs fold in their folded position.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the legs include telescoping inner and outer legs engaged to one another through a spring loaded button extending from the inner leg and holes in the outer leg.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the legs include wheels.
 8. The method claim 7, wherein the wheels include a locking mechanism to prevent the wheels from moving.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the table portion further includes handles.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the table portion further comprises weight reduction holes.
 11. A method for setting up a basketball training apparatus comprising: providing a basketball training apparatus comprising: a single flat table portion including ball holders that are circular holes through the table portion and that hold a basketball within the circular holes such that the portion of the basketball outside of the hole can be grasped on all sides, wherein the ball holder holes have a uniform diameter of 0.2 meters; and legs configured to extend from the flat table portion and keep the table portion substantially level with respect to a surface that the legs engage, wherein the legs are height-adjustable and the height adjustment of the legs varies the height of the table; wherein the table portion has a pivot at its mid-point about which the flat table portion can fold, wherein the table portion comprises two equal-sized halves rotatable about the pivot; unfolding the table portion about the pivot; extending the legs from the table to engage a court; setting a height of the legs to a desired height; placing the apparatus at the desired orientation to a basket; and placing basketballs into the ball holder holes.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the legs extend from the table portion from a pivot, such that the legs have two positions, an extended position and a folded position.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the folded position, the legs are beneath the table portion.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the table portion halves each include a portion of a closure mechanism that when engaged, holds the table in a closed position.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the table portion includes a storage area into which the legs fold in their folded position.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the legs include telescoping inner and outer legs engaged to one another through a spring loaded button extending from the inner leg and holes in the outer leg.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the legs include wheels.
 18. The method claim 17, wherein the wheels include a locking mechanism to prevent the wheels from moving.
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the table portion further includes handles.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the table portion further comprises weight reduction holes. 